Electric scooter trial
About the scheme
Derby City Council has partnered with Superpedestrian to provide 50 electric scooters, also known as e-scooters, available for long-term hire for commuters and students in the city.
As part of the response to COVID-19, the Department for Transport (DfT) has made changes that allow these e-scooters to be used on public roads, using the same road space as cyclists. These changes only apply to DfT-approved schemes. It is still illegal to ride any other e-scooter on public roads.
E-scooters offer the potential for convenient, fun, clean and affordable travel while social distancing measures are in place, reduce reliance on car trips and lower harmful emissions.
Our rental scheme, operated by Superpedestrian, aims to support key workers to continue to commute safely to and from work in Derby, during a 12-month trial period. E-scooters will be available to hire at a discounted rate of £30 per month (70% discount).
Full training will be provided during handover. Free maintenance checks can be booked to ensure the e-scooter remains in good condition.
The aim of the scheme is to test the new form of transport to see how it works in practice, and whether it could offer a greener way to travel around the city in the future.
Who can take part
The hire of an e-scooter is only available to students and commuters who live and work in the city. Users will be given a 3-pin charging cable to enable charging at home or work, helmet, and will also be able to book free maintenance checks.
Anyone wanting to hire an e-scooter must:
- work or study in Derby
- be more than 16 years old
- hold at least a provisional driving licence
- agree to the Operators Terms and Conditions of use.
To express an interest in becoming one the 50 participants for the trial, please ensure you meet the criteria.
Your details will be verified by the Superpedestrian team before getting in touch with you about the next steps and booking an appointment to collect your e-scooter from a city centre location.
Electric scooter rental cost
Commuters and students can rent an e-scooter for a discounted rate of £30 a month inclusive of VAT, plus a £50 deposit which is fully refundable when the e-scooter is returned.
This monthly subscription includes a special take home service complete with free helmet and charging cable. Applicants can cancel anytime, giving one months' notice and the e-scooter will be collected and offered to another applicant.
Where you can ride the e-scooter
The e-scooters will not work outside the Derby City Council boundary.
Riding is permitted anywhere cycles are allowed in the city, however, riding an e-scooter on a pavement is illegal. It is also illegal for more than one person to travel per e-scooter.
The main pedestrian area of the city centre will be a slow speed zone, from the Cathedral to the Spot including the main shopping streets, such as Sadler Gate.
Safety of e-scooters
The safety of both participants and other road users has been a key consideration. We’ve learned lessons from pilot schemes elsewhere, and the e-scooters used in the trial have to meet construction standards that are approved by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Superpedestrian has numerous safeguards in place, including ‘geo-fencing’, which will allow where e-scooters can be used, and will limit e-scooters to 4mph in the city centre for the safety of riders and pedestrians. This technology means the e-scooters won’t operate outside Derby City Council boundaries.
Superpedestrian will provide individual or group training to users, and driver licence checks will include a two-stage verification process to minimise fraudulent sign ups.
The e-scooters themselves have several safety features, not least the fact they are bright yellow so can easily be seen. They also include a bell, lights, hands-free phone holder and all users will be provided with a free helmet.
Each scooter will be GPS tracked so, should any abuse be reported, Superpedestrian will be able to locate the user. Both Superpedestrian and the Council have worked with the police and Community Protection to support enforcement A 24-hour customer support line is in place to enable people to report issues, abandoned e-scooters, riding on pavements or other incidents.
Free maintenance checks will also be offered to long-term users to ensure the vehicles remain in good condition. Safety risks will be regularly reviewed throughout the trial.
Dangerous riding, riding on pavements or abandoned e-scooters can be reported 24 hours a day by telephone on 0330 133 3231.